Operation Cheapseats is well under way now:

Neocron 2: Beyond Dome of York

The deal:

  • Duration: 10 Days
  • Client Download: Retail (1.7Gb)
  • Credit Card Required: Yes

I'm on about day 4/10 so far, so I'll talk about the game itself nearer the end of the trial, (and there's a lot to say, believe me,) but something I have noticed, and that seems largely detatched from this particular title; only having ten days greatly improves the game experience!

It's true. Simply knowing that in less than a fortnight, my little character, and all it's stuff, troubles, achievements, hopes and dreams, will cease to exist - 'permadeath', casts a whole new light on the game and the experience of playing it.

  • I don't have to worry about gimping my character with long-term decisions about stats, specials or equipment. So what if I'll suck when I get to Lv500? I'm not going to get there anyway!
  • I don't have to worry about politics, or guilds, or cliques - my entire mayfly-like life will have come and gone before any other player sees me twice!
  • I don't have to worry about money or phat lewt - newbie equipment is all I'll ever need!
  • I don't have to worry about the ever-elusive End Game Content - I'll not need any.
  • I don't have to fear The Grind - I'll be long gone before the repetition ever becomes repetitave!

I've adopted a suitably philosphical and pragmatic aproach to the game as I play; small victories, achieveable goals. I'm not the Hero, but then would I be if I played for 10 months instead of days? My current Neocron 2 Epic Quest is the purchase of the cheapest motorbike, and subsequent Road Trip, and so far it's a darn sight more enjoyable than the pursuit of the Magic Top Level that passes for existential justification in most MMORPGs.

It's odd - my experiement isn't even a week in, and already I'm discovering that my online gaming is suddenly a great deal more satisfying, rewarding and generally enjoyable, without the spectre of a multi-month tour of duty, whacking progressively more resillient rats over and over, hovering over me. Perhaps this is the last step on the long road of disenchantment with the genre as a whole - the final stage of the transition from hardcore roleplaying powergamer to casual timewaster. But certainly one or both of us is broken; me or MMORPGs...I've yet to decide which.

Most rewarding of all, I think, is the certainty that I'll leave this game...any game...not sick to death, bored to tears and hating it. I can't remember ever leaving an online game in a happy frame of mind, looking forward to the possibilty of returning again some day. It's always been bitter. Perhaps I've been playing them wrong all this time...perhaps they're only meant to be played for two weeks?

Meanwhile, my little Cyberpunk Biker-Wannabe labours on, knowing how precious each remaining moment left is, and making the most of every day.

"It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does?" - Gaff, Bladerunner